Time To Give Fat Folks A Break

Lydia DePillis: Anyone Promising Flat Abs In Five Days Is Probably A Quack

(The New Republic)  Lydia DePillis is a researcher for the New Republic.

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A couple days ago, researchers released a study saying that overweight people had significantly less brain tissue than slim people. The crude takeaway: Fat people get stupid.

As if obese Americans needed any more stigma! Indeed, the debate lately has turned towards making fat people personally responsible for the effects of their excess poundage. And maybe they should be, right? Obesity is tremendously costly from a public health standpoint--to the tune of 147 billion a year. David Leonhardt thinks the obese should pay higher insurance premiums. Airlines are charging more for people who occupy more than one seat. Heck, they're even making the planet warm faster. Shouldn't people feel bad about being huge, if it motivates better behavior?

Well, we also know this: Aggressively stigmatizing fat people is at odds with the love-your-body message meant to guard against eating disorders, as well as predatory weight-loss scams, playground bullying, employment discrimination, and bizarre diet crazes. Pudgy people, with the possible exception of old people, are probably the most disadvantaged demographic in American culture--but unlike with smoking, this negative association hasn't slowed rising obesity statistics.

Besides, science shows that sustainable weight loss is a complicated and ambiguous thing, having more to do with your genetics than your ability to forego that afternoon Krispy Kreme, or even conscientious exercise. Ultimately, this thing is bigger than individuals, and simply charging people for their excess poundage is discriminatory: As Marc Ambinder argued in the epic intra-Atlantic smackdown last month, American urban and agricultural policy has made it easy for poor people to live unhealthy lives, and it's much easier to get and stay thin if you've got the money and time to spend on fresh veggies instead of Fritos. So, what to do?

First, it's time to dial down the rhetoric of personal uplift. Mike Huckabee's before/after photos might be inspiring, and I'm sure we could all learn from President Obama's gym regimen, but "leading by example" seems more likely to discourage people when they don't achieve such tabloid-ready results. Our sociological obesity struggle mirrors the individual's: There is no miracle cure, and anyone promising flat abs in five days is probably a quack. It seems like the best option is not to tell people they should slim down, but make it harder for them to be fat, with boring but commonsense environmental changes that start affecting how kids grow up. You know what works: Walking and biking friendly cities, greater urban density, healthy school lunches, widespread nutritional information, cheaper fresh produce, etc.

It's not revolutionary. These are long-term projects, redressing long-term social trends. But the good news is that it's no wild goose chase-better urban planning, for example, has all sorts of proven benefits besides helping people stay slim. Meanwhile, let's use the "fat people are stupid" meme to propel policy change, rather than as fodder for yo momma jokes.

[queenofclubs]

I wish people would stop making the so-called "war on obesity" into the war on obese PEOPLE! Yes, we know we need to lose weight, but charging double for airline seats, making fun of people, insulting and discriminating against them is NOT going to help anyone get slim. Besides, skinny people aren't perfect and they get sick and diet as well.

[skullaria-2009]

I think the Dugger family, with their 20 and growing, need to pay more insurance premiums.

[troutfishyman]

People should pay health care premiums on a sliding scale, based on their health risk profile (weight, tobacco use, diet, exercise). Financial penalty is a powerful motivational tool. It works with auto insurance.

[lonestartnow]

I agree, there are no magic pills or promises. What there is--personal responsibility, positive behavior change, modest but meaningful choices with respect to nutritional and physical activity options. Yes, there are options and we all make choices.

I disagree that overweight and obesity have more to do with genetics. When did our genes change so that between 66 and 67% of the population is now overweight or obese? What has changed is our lack of physical activity and our readiness to consume too many empty calories. Sort of takes it all back to personal responsibility. Now, let's change it back around.

[jsf14]

So should we stop research on the effects of obesity? Or just keep the results secret? Stigma is saying fat's ugly. But just telling the truth about health effects is just telling the truth.

[mjb89]

Hey, I quit smoking so I could save you guys money on my healthcare. Now I have gained 25 pounds and can't get into my clothes. Which of you is going to buy me a new wardrobe? Or should I start smoking again? Which vice will you accept from me?

[rational_1]

I'm perfectly fine with giving the rotund a break and not hassling them... but (and it's a BIG BUTT - hah hah) if we get a health plan with a public option then my taxes, and yours, will be paying for the bad lifestyle choices of the obese. If the calorically-challenged, like everyone else, have the right to my subsidizing their healthcare with my taxes, then surely I also have the right to try to minimize the amount that I'm paying. So fatties, put down those pork rinds and waddle off to the treadmill - if Obama's public option is enacted you're going to owe me some sweat and caloric restriction.

I do have to say that ddog88 does have a valid point; the obese may save social security, but only if they go quickly (eg., coronary) rather than slowly (eg., diabetes), in which case they would drain a lot of dollars out of the coffers. Maybe Palin's death panels can expand their scope a bit? Just a thought... For the completely humourless of you out there, I am kidding.

[mswolfestock]

People need to learn to be healthy for the long run. Spending a few more dollars now on healthier food will be much cheaper and painless than developing diabetes and going blind or having a leg amputated or having a stroke.

Why is it so difficult for people to understand this?

[Observer1504]

yep ....... somebody put a .45 to my head and told me to order 2 Big Macks, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, large fries and a diet coke . Suicide by fork is slower.

[mnbrant]

Fat people are the new slave class of the 21st century. I like ddog88's take on things. he is right. Everybody hates me because I am fat including my wife, but I keep shufflin and grinnin and everthing works out in the end.

[ddog88]

Really, fat people cost more? We work until we are 55 and then we have a heart attack and die. Meanwhile all you healthy skinny people retire at 65 and then go on to Florida and rot in an old folks home, draining the social security system. Fat people are just evolution-humans live too long. Hop on board skinny folks. Cheese burger plz!

[skullaria-2009]

My dad was a long term competitive runner. He always ate right and maintained his health compulsively. He's now in his 70's and has been and out of the hospital for years - with atrial fib and complications. I know one of his best friends, another runner, is barely 60 and in the hospital all the time too. My mom was a bit fat, went in the hospital at 62, a week or two after she retired, and died 2 days later. Now really, line them up and my dad has cost a LOT more.

[brlfqq]

I have burdened society with my "largeness" for some years now. I feel that I can no longer go on working, providing for my family, paying my healthcare bills and my taxes while I am such a burden.

WAIT JUST A DADGUM minute! Aren't we large folk something like 67% of Americans???? You skinny people better look out! The next thing you know, we'll charge you extra because you obviously do not need as much money/tax breaks, etc. You are very healthy folks and can surely get by with less. You skinny folks can drive smaller cars, live in smaller houses, and eat less food. Yea, that's it! We'll all decrease our carbon footprint by having little people get by with less!

Next: We calculate the average IQ of people who write stories about fat folks.(It involves pi and the quadratic equation. It'll be so kewl!) STAY TUNED!

[mswolfestock]

I'm not fat because I have chosen to invest in higher-priced vegetables, fruits, dairy products, etc instead of gorging myself on McNasty's and pork rinds (yuk). The advantage comes because I don't take prescription drugs, and my cholesterol is 160. I feel great and I expect to live a long healthy life because I have chosen to invest in myself. I cannot stand to look at fat people, you're gross how could you let yourselves get so disgusting. How dare you blame everybody but yourselves. Nobody holds a gun to your head in the grocery store -- nobody hijacks your car -- nobody makes you buy and eat that disgusting garbage at Burger King and KFC. Y'all fatties have nobody to blame but yourselves. Put down the junk food and get up off of the couch. I'm tired of looking at you.

[jc80013-01]

I think that people that drink alcohol should pay more.

I think that people that drink soda should pay more.

I think that people that use drugs should pay more.

I think that people that ride dirt bikes on the weekends should pay more.

I think that people that hike 14ers should pay more.

I think that people that ride mountain bikes down ski runs should pay more.

I think that people that ski should pay more.

I think that people that sun tan should pay more.

I think that people that tan in tanning beds should pay more.

I wonder, the story quoted 147 Billion in cost associated with obesity, what is the cost of knee, ankle and hip replacements from running? Geez how about we add up the cost of injuries just from the list above and running and tell me if its fair that my fat azz pays for their actions. People may want to pay attention because people are getting bigger. If businesses alienate big folks they may be setting themselves up to fail.

[mswolfestock]

The point that you are choosing to miss is this -- nobody ever got diabetes from skiing or engaging in any other kind of exercise that may or may not lead to injuries (which slim folks recover from faster than fatties). And isn't it just like a lazy fat slob to whine and make excuses instead of taking personal responsibility for their own health, bad or otherwise.

[rational_1]

mswolfstock, I think you're missing his or her point. Being obese certainly increases medical costs and no one argues that. But so does excessive alcohol consumption or participation in risky activities, like mountain climbing or motorcycle riding without a helmet. Most of the things that jc800-13 listed are completely volitional and, more or less, could be expected to increase healthcare costs. So, obesity may be a major cause of increased healthcare costs but it's by no means the only one, nor is it the only major one (egs., smoking, alcoholism). Where do you draw the line in terms of limiting individual freedoms in the interests of cost cutting? Personally, I don't know - quite a slippery slope. Oh, and by the way, I'm not at all obese and am not arguing this from a personal defensive standpoint.

[troutfishyman]

I wonder if the author has a big butt :)

[formrusmcsgt]

Leonhardt thinks the obese should pay higher insurance premiums.
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He's not the only one.....

[noloyalisti]

Time to put a big fat fee on fast food profits and also a large tax at the register. Let's start having them pay for their damages.